Rhode Island, 2000

High Wind in Rhode Island, December 17, 2000

December 17, 2000 · NWS BOX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

A rapidly strengthening low pressure system west of New England brought a period of damaging southerly winds to much of the Ocean State, as lines of showers passed through southern New England. Following the passage of a strong cold front later in the day, increasing northwest winds caused damage over much of the state once again.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
2
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.

A rapidly strengthening low pressure system west of New England brought a period of damaging southerly winds to much of the Ocean State, as lines of showers passed through southern New England. Following the passage of a strong cold front later in the day, increasing northwest winds caused damage over much of the state once again. Peak wind gusts of nearly 60 mph were common throughout Rhode Island, resulting in countless reports of downed trees, tree limbs, and power lines. About 5,700 electric customers were left without power statewide. Two people were injured just outside Providence, when the car they were driving in was struck by a falling tree. High winds and rough seas forced the cancellation of at least one run of the Block Island Ferry.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northwest Providence

When
December 17, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Providence forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bristol

When
December 17, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Bristol forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.706, -71.286 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Kent

When
December 17, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Kent forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Newport

When
December 17, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Newport forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.500, -71.281 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeast Providence

When
December 17, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Providence forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.871, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Washington

When
December 17, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.397, -71.620 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Kent

When
December 17, 11:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Western Kent forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.673, -71.579 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Rhode Island in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, December 2000

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5168255, 5168256, 5168257, 5168258, 5168259, 5168260, 5168261.